Hydraulic power transmission.



I. M. W. KITCHEN.

HYDRAULIC POWER TRANSMISSION.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, I907.

Patented May 11, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEE T l- IIIIII" Inventor: 974 M I. M. W. KITCHEN.

HYDRAULIC POWER TRANSMISSION.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, I907.

Patented May 11, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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IIIII. I IIII II Inventor:

To all wkomitmay i -massacres 'idref'r'iiiq,..or nesr omuen, NEW ismifina'nunic i ewnn' 'rnausnrIssIou.

Moses Warn I Be it known that I,'J osnrn KrrcHEN, acitizenof .the United: States,"re-

' siding at. Eastoraiigafcountysof Essex, and

Stateof New Jersey, have inventedcertain new and useful Im rovem nts in 'Hydraiilic Power Transmission, of which the ren win is a specification.

. e objectof'my invention ist'o 'frender motof r ve hicles actuat db Explosive power more safe, tractable and dependable in use;' which object I attain-by utl'hzing means for the'transmission of the power of anexplosion engine, that is devoid of a rigid means of power transmission with thedamaging frictional jarrin and racki'n g'eifects that ;.are .usuallj fexperi enced 'in vehicles of I this class. I preferably use hydraulic transving the power to the mission of the power! enerated for. convey.-

iving mechanism. of the vehicle;'-but also may; use electrical transmission under certain conditions.

The invention in'particular consists in the use of various novel features inv transmit ting the power 'infsuch vehicles, and in the arrangement of the parts of. the power transmitting mechanism to secure a stable equilibrium of the vehicle by keeping the center of gravity of the vehicle. at a low level and by a desirable distribution of weight: and also to secure simplicity and safety in the driving management of such vehicles, so as to gain awider practical application for them in general use. I do not broadly claim the idea of using'either hydraulic or electrical transmission in such vehicles, as such use is'old in,'thearts;,but my Claims are for such construction and dispositionof the parts as will render "such methods of power transmission in vehicles more practical and satisfactory. I

In most cases a vehicle that would comprise my invention would be-one or other type of automobile actuated .by the power of exploding gases generated from "liquid hydrocarbons; but I do not confinejmyself'to evolving power from liquid. fuel.

. In the accompanying drawings which show desirable formsof the invention; Figure 1 represents. a plan view of the chassis of an automobile to. which my invention isapplied, some of the partsbeing broken away. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, onthe line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, partly in section, on the saecmcamnarmamen 2 mama aerate 21, 907; Serial n'masasei.

e-3,." Fi trolling valve, partly lin section. Fig. 5*

-- ian engine starter.

' on the line.

B i's the startin nectmgthe valve .i-with the hand-lever N, and an lntermediate' Tatentediiay 1i, 1915.

1'. Fig. 4 "represents a conrepresents an enlarged view .of a safety valve and correlated parts, partly in sectien,

on line 55, Fi .1. ig. '6 represents ig. 7 represents on a larger scale section, and-partly in eleya1 tion, one of the two on thehue 7-7, Fig- 8. Fig. l8-represents' a sectlonal lansvllew of one of the turbines olfr a large scale, a sectional. horizontal view 0 verticalsection, the impelling means ofthe pump shown in Fig. 9..

g. 7. Fig. 9 represents motor turbines taken a rotary pump. uFig. 10 represents in A is a rod actuating-the controlling valve j'- Forclearness it is broken away. It connects wlth the foot lever M (see Fig. 2)

which can 'be used in emergencies to cutoff the flow of motive fluid passing through the I controlling valve.

and reversing rod conrocker-shaft B C represents compression and cooling Eanks for radiating heat from' the motive 4 of compressed air ,or other gas from the tanksC.. D is a feed conduit for motive fluid leadlng from the tank T tothe inlet of the centrifugal pump G. p

D is the outletconduit from the centrifugal pump G. I

I) is an inlet -to the cooling jacket of one of 'theengine cylinders. D is a by-pass valve which regulates the amount of motive fluid passed over the cyl-. indersof the engines through the cooling jacket E D is an outlet valve for the cooling jack ets of the cylinders which acts in conjunction with the by pass valve D D is a bypass conduit for excess pressure motive fluid wh ch prevent the entire exit v 'G are curved pression and cooling tanks (lto the motor.

turbines M. A r G is a combined centrifugal turbine pump and fly wheel.

G is a casing (See Fig. 9).

a G represents i-ndrawing turbine blades of the impeller of the centrifugal pump. (See Fig}. 9.) 10 a are blades for imparting centrifugal motion to the motive fluid. These blades are thickened peripherally to secure welght 'and fly Wheel momentum in the impeller.

(See Fig. 9.) I

diverters for diverting a horizontal flow of the motive current to and for starting a centrifugal movement in the motive fluid. (See Figs. 9 and 10.)

G is the shaft of the impeller (see Fi 9.)

H is a motive fluid conduit leading rom the compression tanks C to the motor con- ,trolling valve V.

' I I is the ratchetdisk of the engine starter J.

J is the engine. starter, the center of action of which is the same as that of the engine shaft S. (See Fig. 6.)

J is the lever for starting the engine. K is the engaging pawl of the starter J.

L is the handle of the starter J. 1

L is the actuating handle-for engaging the starting pawl Wlth the ratchet disk I.

(See Fig. 6.) i r j M is a motor turbine.

M is a drip pan. y

M is a'p etcock for emptying the drip pan Mt. (See Fig. 3.)

M is the bevel gearing for actuating the propellingA axle Q. (See Fig. 7

M is t e foot lever for actuating the rod 40 of the motive valve V. (See Fig. 2.)

N is a hand lever for actuating the motive controlling rod'B. (See Fig. 2.

O is an overflow safety valve for short circuiting the motive fluid into the tank T.

(See Fig. 5.)

O is a rod communicating with the fuel feedingprovision of the engine.

i O is a valve lid.

O is a valve closing sprin P representsthe buckets o the motor turbine M. (See 8.) Q a 1? represents atage cavities in the motor' turbines impeller. These cavities are fluid tight and contain air or other gas.

'55 (See Fig. 7.

peller.

P is the vertical shaft of-the motors im- Q is a propulsion shaft. Q is a stufling box. (See .Fig. 7.) Q is 'a shaft housing. Q isa stufling box for the casing G and crank shafts. (See Fig.9.) 7

R is the reversing conduit for motive fluid. Sis the crank shaft for the engine.

S is a bearing for the shaft S.

for the centrifugal pump Gr.v

Tie a storage tank forexhaust'motive Tis a motive fluid outlet from the motor turb1nes,.which conveys the motive fluid to the storage tank '1.

T is a gas .outlet and pipe leading to the engines fuel feeding means, which means x are not shown for clearness.

T is a motive fluid gage.

V is the. motor'va'lve for startin or stopping the-vehicle, for regulating t e speed, and for reversing. (See Fig. 4.)

V is a three way valve spindle.

V is a valve actuatin gear.

W represent anti-frlction balls- (See 'Fig. 7

X are bolts used in the motor turbine.

Y is the power'transmitting plate of the revolving turbine motor M. (See Figs. 7 and 8.)

Z is the' motor turbine casing. '(See Fig. 7.) '4

Z is the top plate of the turbine casing.

The engine E may be'of' any} usual zontally in order I prefer to have the cylinders arranged hor1- to help, bring the center of gravity of the automobile low down'fand also so as to be able to construct a vehicle body over it. The valves, earbureter s, commutators, batteries, spark generators, etc.,

which are present insuch-engin'es, are here not shown to promote clearness in the drawings. The engine shown is of a two-cylinder, four-cycle type, and'is so arranged as to alternately exert explosive pressure on the cranks of the engine shaft S, which is horizontally disposed in a direction transverse to. the longitudinal axis of the chassis. The engine starter J has its ratchet disk I connected with the shaft S. Its handle L can befconveniently reached from the front specific gravity which prevents much vola-' tilization of the oil by the heat of the engine. In the centrifugal pump G, the principle is adopted of introducing the motive fluid into the center of the im ell'er of the pump with the'indrawing bla e G in the internal cavity of the impeller; which cavity is large at the end at which the fluid enters, and converges to a small diameter at theopposite end. The form of the impeller here shown is for the purpose of preventing retardation of the fluid passing through the pump owing to a lesser rate of travel for the fluid at the center of the pump. The curved current diverters Gr start the flow of the.

motive fluid centrifugally and progressively increasing motion is given tothe fluid by the impeller blades (1 These blades are thickened at their peripheral extremities in order to increase the momentum of the im: peller and thus cause the impeller-to act as a fl wheeL in' carrying the cranks on the sha S past dead centers." The revolving impeller of the pump has bearings at hlofih e.

ends of the fixed pump-casing G ends of the shaft S are square, and axially fit into a square hole at the hub end G of the impeller of the pump.

As the impeller acquires speed, the motive fluid is forced peripherally through the outlet conduit D Some 0 the fluid is passed through the inlet D through the cooling jacket 15 and the balance'is forced through the by-pass conduit D The amount of fluid passing through the water cooling jacket E isregulated by the valves D and D The motive fluid then travels throughthe conduit D to the compression and cooling tanks G. If the pressure becomes too great, some of the fluid overflows through the safety valve 0 into the storage tank T. This valve 0 has a rod 0 connecting with the fuel feeding means ofthe of one ofthe tanks and travels thence through the tanks'successively from end .to end, being progressively cooled in its travel through the several tanksfi In each compression tank are the; inlet and outlet pipes G which are there so placed as to" prevent the compressed gas in the tank from being forced out during the varying alterations in the level in the tanks in passing overvarying grades of the roadbedtraversed by the automobile; the compressed gas in the tank relatively maintaining a level; and hence some gas is always present at one or the other end of the tank. The air or other gas in the tanks G acts as anelastic cushion allowing for. the accumulation of force in the tanks, neutralizing the shockof explosion, and providing for an'fequable outflow of the motive fluid under pressure.

The motive fluid is .forced out throughthe conduit H to the controlling valve V. This valve has a three way spindle V and the valve spindle actuating means V which rotates the spindle V As the spindle ro- .tates to a greater or less degree, the motive fluid is allowed to pass through the valve 1n varying quantities; or is entirely prevented from passing therethrough; thus furnishing the means for starting the automobile and for securing any degree of speed in the vehicle, for stopping 1t, or for reversing it. When a forward motion is desired in-the vehicle, the flow of motive fluid is directed through the conduit F; if a reverse motion is desired, the fluid is directed through the conduit R. The operation of th'1s valvecan be readily understood by referring to Fig. 4. After passing the control-- ling .valve V, the fluid is forced to and through the motor turbines M. These turbmes revolve in a horizontal plane; this ar- 1 rangement being made in order to secure a greater leverage ower for the force supplied to the impdl would be practical in vertically arranged motors of a lesser diameter in low hung automobiles. This motor turbine M is constructed so as to have its impeller float and revolve in a bath of the motive fluid with which-the motor casing Z becomes filled in use, (see Fig. 7.) The impeller of this motor turbine is aiflxed to a vertically disposed shaft P ,,which has its centers in a bearing 111 the cavity of the'casing plate Z and in a the centerof the stufling box Q The im- A hrs of the motors, than ably the only one in the apparatus; as in 7 this system of transmission, there is no need for any clutch, speed gear, or differential gear on the divided axle. An individual turbine on each half of the divided axle obviates the need of -a differential gear. The, motive fluid is forced into the buckets P from the conduits F and R, giving motion Y to the turbine impeller, and finds its exit through the conduit T to the storage tank T. This tank has a gage T for indicating sion and contraction between "parts and to obviate the shaking and jarring effects 'of the mechanism as it is propelled.

The mechanism here shown is intended to produce its effect by passing therethrough a large volume of motive fluid at a relatively low pressure, in a circulatory round.

The advantages of the form of invention shown in the drawings, are: low initial cost of constructiomdurability as to wear and tear, and facility in management;

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: a v1. In a motor-driven vehicle, the combination with the chassis and drive wheels of the vehicle, of (1) means for enerating motive power by explosion, ?2) means for transferring the power of said explosion to allowing fluid, means for storing or accumulatingthe power thus transferred, the said last named'means comprising provision for equalizing and difiusing the intense interrupted shock and jarof explosion into a continuous. smooth outflow of a power transmitting. medium, and (4) means for revolving a shaftby the power thus transmitted,

said mechanism being constructed and disposed to drive said motor vehicle and having the following described specific construction and arrangement of parts said parts being horizontally disposed in relation to and at a level below the upper border of the chassis frame of said vehicle, said first named means having at the front of said frame one or more pistoned engines horizontally acting in the line of the greatest length of said frame, a crank shafttransversely disposed to the greatest length of said frame and so disposed as to receive rotary motion from the reciprocal motion of the pistons of said engine, one. or 'more rotary pumps attached to said shaft and rotating with said shaft, said engine and pumps being placed interior to the side lines of said frame, said third named means comprising one or a connected series of air and fluid -co1npression tanks or pipes constructed-and arranged to pass serially therethrough a motive fluid and for holding a compressed gas for equalizing the outgoing pressure of said fluid, said fourth named means comprising a fluid actuated'motor revolving in a horizontal plane.

2. In a motor driven vehicle, "the combination of the chassis and drive wheels of the vehicle with, a mechanism for transmitting power comprising (1) means including a pump for producing through explosion rotary motion in a crank shaft, (2) a horizontally disposed shaft for driving said vehicle, (3) a horizontally rotating motor, (4) means ,for communicating the rotary motion of the horizontally rotating motor to said horizontally disposed driving shaft, and (5) means for relieving friction due to the weight of said fourth named meansin com municating motion to said drivin shaft through the buoyant force of a liqui 3. In a motor driven vehicle, the combination with the chassis and drive wheels of the vehicle of (1) an internal combustion engine, (2) a pump for forcing a fluid, (3) means for the compression and accumulation of said fluid, (4) a horizontally rotating motor floating in a fluid, (5) the driving shaft of said vehicle, (6) means for communicating motion from said motor to said driving shaft, and (7) means for conveying fluid in a circulatory round between and through said pump, compression tank and horizontally rotating motor.

4. In amotor driven vehicle, the combination of the chassis and drive wheels of the vehicle with a mechanism for transmitting power comprising (1) an explosion engine, (2) means actuated by said engine for pumping a fluid power transmitting medium and for conveying said medium to power ac; culnulating cooling and pressure equalizing tanks, (3) said tanks, (4) a valve for transmitting power and for controlling the amount of power transmitted to the propulsion shaft ofsaid vehicle and for reversing motion in said propulsion shaft and for stop: ping motion in said shaft, (5) means for controlling the actuating mechanism of. said 'propulsory shaft of said vehicle.

5. In a motor driven vehicle, the combination with the chassis, traction wheel, guiding wheelfand driving shaft for said traction wheel of the vehicle, of the following parts supported by said chassis, (1) an internal combustion engine and means for forcing a power transmitting fluid with the energy generated in said engine, (2) combined storage, compression and cooling tanks for said fluid, (3) a motor actuated by said forced fluid for driving said shaft, a cooling jacket for 'the cylinder of said engine, (5) means for forcing said fluid through said cooling jacket to and into said tanks and'from said tanks to and through said motor for actuating said shaft, (6)" means for controlling the amount of cooling fluid passing through said jacket, (7) an overflow safety valve located between said fifth named means and said compression and cooling tanks, (8) two conduits at a low levelin each of said tanks, said conduits entering said tanks at the ends of said tanks from without said tanks, and opening in said tanks near the center and at about an equal distance from the ends of said tanks, (9) a receiving tank for motive fluid exhausted from said motor, (10) means for conveying said fluid from said motor to said receiving tank, (11) means for conveying said fluid from said tenth named means to said forcing means, and (12) means for conveying gas for combustion from said last named tank to said engine.

6. In a motor driven vehicle, the combination with the drive shaft and wheels of the vehicle, of a chassis frame, an engine, an accumulator of force, and a propulsory motor, said engine having a crank shaft transversely disposed to said chassis frame, said crank shaft having attached thereto at both of its ends means for generating a flow of motive fluid, said means also acting to secure through acquired momentum continuous rotary motion in said crank shaft, said parts being located below the upper level of said chassis frame and so distributed as to secure a low center of gravity and a transversely distributed equilibrium of the weight and balance of said parts in relation to the chassis frame of said vehicle.

7. In a motor driven vehicle, the combination with the chassis, traction wheel, guiding wheel, and driving shaft for said traction wheel of said vehicle, of the following parts supported by said chassis, an engine and parts connecting said engine and said drive shaft, said parts comprising a crank shaft and two rotary hydraulic pumps, said pumps being attached to said crank shaft by square ends on said crank shaft and fitting into square sockets formed in said rotary pumps.

8. In a motor driven vehicle the combination with a propulsory shaft for the vehicle of, a horizontally rotating motor comprisin a vertically disposed shaft or axle, sai motor having means for gearing the shaft or axle of said motor to the propulsory shaft of said vehicle and further means for the relief of friction in said gearing by the upward pressure of the impeller of said motor floating in a fluid, said motor comprising 9. In a motor vehicle, the combination with the drive shaft and drive wheels of said Vehicle, of two horizontally revolving motors oppositely rotating to secure balance in said vehicle, means for gearing said motors with said drive shaft, means for supplying motive liquid to said motors, said motor being hydraulically driven.

10. In a motor driven vehicle, the combination with the chassis and the drive Wheels of the vehicle, of the internal combustion engine E, the crank shaft S, the combined pump and fiy-wheel G, the overflow safety valve 0, the compression and cooling tanks C, the motor turbines M, the motor valve V, the exhaust storage tank T, the cooling jacket E the connecting pipes, the actuating rods of the vehicle, the entrance and exit pipes C the valves D and D, the conduits, the beveled gearing M the floating elements 1?, and the levers N and M said elements belng cooperatively arranged constructed and disposed in relation to the chassis of. said motor driven vehicle substantially, as herein shown and described, and for thepurpose set forth.

Signed at New York, N. Y., this 20th day of February 1907.

I JOSEPH MOSES WARD KITCHEN. Witnesses:

Gno. L. WHEELOCK,

OLIVE B. KING. 

